UK regulator considering change in advice on AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for young people

The UK vaccines regulator is reportedly considering advising against young people, at least those under 30-years-old, taking the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is said to be reviewing its guidance amid concerns that the risk of extremely rare blood clots could be marginally higher among younger people.

Channel 4 News reported two senior sources had revealed the MHRA was being urged to restrict the jab, developed with Oxford University, in younger people - with a decision expected as early as this week.

The UK has so far not stopped the jab among younger people. Still, several other countries - including Germany and France - have done so after worries that balance of risk could be a different scenario among the young.

Germany and the Netherlands have restricted the AstraZeneca vaccine to those over 60, while France has restricted the vaccine to over 55s. 

Today, a senior official from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) told an Italian daily it is “clear” that there was a link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and a rare form of a blood clot but that the cause is still not known.